Patent GB-472434-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to automatic ticketing devices for use in telephone or like exchange systems
IPC: H04M15/04
Filed: 1936-07-03
Abstract: 472,434. Automatic exchange systems. STANDARD TELEPHONES & CABLES, Ltd. (Devaux, L.) July 3, 1936, No. 18523. Addition to 455,414. [Class 40 (iv)] The automatic ticketing machine described in the parent Specification is modified mainly so that (1) it may be tested by a routiner or may be caused to make a test ticket bearing the date and time of day, (2) if the control shafts depart from their correct relative positions they automatically adjust themselves, (3) three successive punchings (untimed) are made for a three minute call, the first marked with the date, the second with the time of day, and the third with the serial number of the ticket. The Specification also describes time-warning or breakdown signals transmitted by the machine, these arrangements being claimed in Specification 472,436. The machine comprises a clutch controlled shaft MCS carrying the printing and punching cams 1-8, a counting shaft CS which is moved one step for each revolution of MCS, and a sequence shaft SS spring driven from CS at certain stages of the operations to control the clutching and de-clutching of the cams 2-8. The machine when in position in its bay closes contacts BC and, when idle, returns battery over wire 7. When seized, the trunk removes ground from wire 6 and repeats impulses to wire 1 to operate digit wheel magnet DPM, wire 2 being grounded when digit wheel TW goes off normal and wires 2 and 3 being connected at the trunk circuit at the end of a digit to operate clutch magnet CM whereupon shaft MCS rotates, cam 2 prints the digit, cam 3 re-sets the digit wheel, and cam 1 feeds the record strip. The clutch magnet CM is held over CC for nearly a revolution of MCS and its armature is mechanically held operated by disc SD until a notch in SD reaches normal. During rotation of MCS, R1 removes ground from wire 5 until the digit wheel has been re-set when the ground is re-connected to effect control at the trunk equipment. Shaft CS is now in position 2 and has displaced the fixed digit type (see parent Specification). The remaining digits up to 7 are recorded in similar manner, and if the number of digits is less than 7, dashes are printed (normal position of digit wheel) in response to ground connected to wire 3 by the trunk causing CS to step to position 8. Further spacing dashes are printed when the machine steps CS automatically to position 10 in which ground (absent in positions 8 and 9) is re-connected to wire 5 to start the transmission of the metering digits up to four in number which are recorded in similar manner followed by two spacing dashes, CS reaching position 16. The calling subscriber's number (6 digits) is then registered and CS reaches position 22 in which escapement magnet EM is operated and a spring wound up by shaft CS drives SS to position 2 in which the digit printing and re-set cams 2, 3 are de-clutched and punching cam 7 and date cam 4 are clutched. The ground signal is again connected to wire 5 and the reply signal comes in over wire 3, whereupon CM is operated to rotate, MCS to punch and date the ticket and step CS to position 23 in which EM is energized and SS goes to position 3 to de-clutch date cam 4 and clutch the time of day cam 5. Clutch magnet CM operates, the ticket is again punched, the time recorded and CS stepped to position 24 in which SS goes to position 4, and a third punching marked with the ticket number is made, CS stepping to 25 and SS to 5 in which only punching cam 7 is clutched. Ground is reconnected to wire 5 and the machine awaits the minute signals after the normal three minutes have elapsed. These signals arrive over wire 3 and cause successive revolutions of MCS to punch the ticket, CS being advanced to 36 where the ratchet has a missing tooth so that CS remains at 36 if more than 12 minutes excess time is occupied, but MCS still continues to operate the punch. SS remains in position 5. The machine grounds wire 10 in positions 28, 31, 34 after 5, 8 and 11 minutes of conversation to give a warning or breakdown signal if required. When the connection is released, the trunk connects ground to wire 6. In all cases, premature release (CS, 2 to 21 ; SS, 1), no reply (CS, 22 ; SS, 2), normal release (CS, 23 to 36 ; SS, 5), SS proceeds to position 6 in which the printing &c. cams are declutched and CM is operated to drive MCS continuously until CS is in position 36 whereupon SS proceeds to position 7 in which cutting cam 8 severs the ticket and gives the pawl of CS a double length stroke to step it past the missing tooth into position 1, SS then proceeding to position 1. Paper strip, exhaustion and replenishment thereof. Notches near the end of the strip release key EPK which removes battery from 7 to busy the trunk, and grounds an alarm wire 8. On opening the paper channel, contacts FTK operate, clutch magnet CM causes MCS to rotate and step CS to position 2, and magnet DM operates and locks to defiect the next ticket from the normal to the special shoot. When new paper has been inserted and the channel closed, FTK reconnects wire 6 normally grounded at the trunk and a blank ticket is made, the machine operating as in the case of premature release. DM releases when the machine reaches normal. Testing. The date and time of day printers may be checked by throwing key DHK which is mechanically locked in the normal position if CS is off normal. If wire 6 is grounded (trunk idle) clutch and ticket deflecting magnets CM, DM operate, MCS rotates continuously and when CS reaches position 2 the fixed digit has been printed and fixed digit type 121 displaced by a cam 116, Fig. 2, on CS as described in the parent Specification. In the present case, this cam also operates lever 135 to lock DHK normal or off normal as the case may be. The release circuit from wire 6 is open at DHK. When CS reaches position 22, escapement magnet EM operates and SS moves to position 2 in which CM is again operated and the date is printed, this being followed by the time-of-day and ticket number as in the case of a normal ticket. Key DHK is unlocked by cam 116 before CS reaches 36 so that the release circuit from wire 6 becomes operative, and the ticket is ejected into the special shoot, DM restoring when the machine reaches normal. If the date and time are incorrect the printers normally controlled by clock impulses to magnets MDP, HMP may be impulsed by keys RSK. If a routiner is used to send test numbers and signals to the machine it is arranged to operate deflecting magnet DM. In each case DM disconnects the alarm circuit over wire 8. False operation, preventing and correcting. MCS and SS must not rotate at the same time, and this is prevented by clutch magnet CM opening the circuit of escapement magnet EM and by SS opening the circuit of CM at SS2 when it is not in a rest position. The armatures of EM and CM are also mechanically interlocked. The circuits controlled by shafts CS and SS are such that if the shafts are not in correct relative position at any stage, they re-adjust themselves automatically. The shafts are also mechanically coupled as shown in Fig. 4a to prevent SS leaving position 6 if CS is not at 36 and from leaving position 7 if CS is not at 1. A large disc 147 on SS stopped by pin 150 and lever 159 in position 6 of SS is arranged adjacent a smaller disc 148 on CS, the lever being spring urged so that member 146 thereon engages the periphery of disc 148. When CS reaches position 36, projection 149 engages incline 153 and releases lever 159 from pin 150 so that SS can move to position 7, pin 150 riding along the upper edge of lever 159. Shaft CS cannot leave 36 until SS has reached 7 in which pin 150 abuts against shoulder 156 and depressed lever 159 still further to enable incline 154 to ride over the top of projection 152 and in doing so to release lever 159 completely from pin 150 thereby permitting SS to move to position 1.